Wrestling Heritage

ALHAMBRA THEATRE, LONDON.
WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT.

Open to the World
(Catch-as-catch-can Style).
Under the Direction of Mr A. F. BETTINSON, National Sporting Club,
Covent Garden, W.C.

PATRONS
The Right Hon. Earl of Lonsdale. Colonel G. M. Fox. Sir Claude Champion de Crespigny. Bart. Sir Georgo Prescott, Bart. Admiral the Hon. Victor A. Montagu. A. Barclay Walker, Gilbert C. Elliot, Esq., C. R. Champion de Crespigny, Esq., Eugene Corri, Esq

£300 in PRIZES and Valuable Cups to Winners.

Commencing MONDAY AFTERNOON, JANUARY 27. 1908, at 3 o’clock,
and following Afternoons during the Week.

HEAVY-WEIGHT (any weight).
MIDDLE-WEIGHT (12st and under).
LIGHT-WEIGHT (10st and under).
Box office open daily 10 to 10.

CATCH-AS-CATCH-CAN STYLE RULES

1. Every contest or competition shall be decided by not less than two judges and a referee, the latter to be appealed to if the judges disagree; one judge shall not be empowered to give a decision. The decision of the referee shall be final, and further, the referee shall have power to decide any point not provided for in these laws.
2. The wrestlers shall take hold how and where they please, subject to the following restrictions: – The hair, flesh, ears, private parts, or clothes may not be seized, the twisting of fingers and thumbs is forbidden, nor may such a hold he obtained that the fear of breakage or dislocation of a limb shall induce a wrestler to give the fall. It shall be unlawful to butt or to kick, but striking with the side of the foot shall not be deemed kicking. The following chips are barred: The double nelson, the arm or foot up the back with the bar on, the strangle, half-strangle, the hang, and the foot twist.
3. A fall is obtained when a wrestler’s two shoulders shall be on the ground at the same time to the satisfaction of the judges.
4. If a preliminary bout lasts thirty minutes it shall be decided by the judges and referee. Final bouts shall be two falls without time limit.
5. The judges shall see that a wrestler’s finger nails are trimmed short, and that he has not on his hands or body any substance likely to cause distress or injury to his opponent. The wrestlers shall compete in their stockinged feel, or wearing rubber-soled gymnasium shoes.
6. The referee shall disqualify any wrestler using unfair means after having been once cautioned.

“There is no manner of doubt that the rules of the tournament are on the side of Mr Percy Longhurst, the referee, and one of the best authorities on wrestling that we have. The rule distinctly says: – “A fall is obtained when a wrestler’s two shoulders shall be on the ground at the same time to the satisfaction of the judges. This is distinctly a pin fall, flying fall, or rolling fall. In framing the catch-as-catch-can rules which govern all the “catch-can” matches made at the “Sporting Life” Office, the wrestlers who assisted in the work provided for a difficulty such as this by making Rule 3 read as follows:-

“A pin fall is gained when two shoulders touch the mat at the same time and remain for two seconds, and a flying or rolling fall when two shoulders touch the mat for any period less than two seconds. The style of fall shall be decided prior to the match and the referee informed.”

It will be seen that the referee, Mr Longhurst, has no power to give any decision save awarding the bout to the wrestler who secures a pin fall, flying fall, or rolling fall.”